Thursday, November 14, 2013

Hindu Sangam pans Ku Nan's 'how to build temples'

If
Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor’s definition of
temples is anything to go by, not a single Hindu temple could have been
built in Malaysia, said the Malaysian Hindu Sangam.

“Because
to build a temple according to our religion’s rules, we will need at
least five acres of land for all aspects (of the temple) to be
considered,” said its president RS Mohan Shan (left).

He
said this is to accommodate requirements such as ponds, halls, and the
temple itself, however, the government does not allocate land for this.

“The
government is not allocating us any land for Hindu temples. Most of our
temples are illegally built because we do not get proper land for these
thing,” he claimed when contacted.

Mohan was asked to comment on Tengku Adnan’s insistence that the 101-year old Sri Muneswarar Kaliyamman temple, which was partially demolished on Sunday, was actually a "shrine".

Tengku Adnan (right) claimed this is because it did not meet severalrequirements
for Hindu temples, such as having a water source like rivers and ponds;
that it must face east, and that those entering the temple must
prostrate.

He also claimed that the demolition was to make way for renovation works to beautify the temple.

Mohan
said that while the Hindu Sangam recognises that many Hindu temples are
not up to specifications, the federal minister should not have the
final word on Hindu affairs.

“I welcome it because he learnt
about Hinduism as a Muslim and it is good, but he should not be the
authority to decide anything on Hindu rites.

“The decision board
should be Hindu Sangam or any (Hindu) religious body,” he said,
referring to Tengku Adnan’s claim to have knowledge of Hindu religion.

Takes time to educate on temple rules and guidelines

Mohan
added the NGO has issued guidelines on building temples and is in midst
of educating the Hindu community to follow the rules and rites relating
to Hindu temples, but stressed that the process needed more time.

Even
so, he said the demolition should not have taken place because the
temple committee, Hindu Sangam, and the Federal Territories Ministry are
still in talks regarding the temple’s land dispute with developer Hap
Seng Consolidated Bhd.

In a meeting in mid-September, he claimed
Deputy Federal Territories Minister Loga Bala Mohan Jaganathan had
suggested the temple be rebuilt to accommodate 100 devotees at a time
within a 3,000 square feet area.

This
was a compromise between the 5,000 square feet of land that is
originally occupies and the over 2,000 square feet that it would be left
with if it ceded to Hap Seng’s demands, he said.

A meeting between the temple committee and Loga Bala’s had been fixed for Nov 19 to follow-up on the proposal.

“The issue should be settled this month. Why did they have to go and have the demolition and all this?” he said.

Mohan
said the Hindu Sangam will press for the proposal to materialise and
for the 3,000 square feet of land to be gazetted as a Hindu temple to
prevent a repeat of the demolition.